Patents Examined by Jeffery R. Thurlow
  • Patent number: 5474732
    Abstract: A method for forming a surgical clip and fixture for use therein includes molding a polymeric clip body, the clip body having hinged legs, the polymer of the clip body being substantially amorphous. The clip body can then be moved to a desired configuration while being subjected to a temperature above the glass transition temperature. The molded clip body is then heated to a temperature within the crystallization range for a period of time sufficient to impart at least 20% crystallinity thereto to impart a spring back property. Also disclosed herein is a fixture for forming a surgical clip in accordance with this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert W. Korthoff, Daniel Shichman, Ross R. Muth, Charles E. Gorman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5474722
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of a high modulus article comprising a composite of an oriented plastic material and an oriented particulate material, said process including the steps of:a. continuously forcing an orientable plastics material, while it is close to or at its softening temperature and in admixture with an orientable particulate material, through a converging passage of which the cross-sectional area diminishes in the forward direction of plastic flow, thereby to produce an extrudate;b. deforming the extrudate, while it is maintained at or close to its melt temperature, to produce an oriented, deformed extrudate; andc. cooling the deformed extrudate to preserve the orientation and provide said composite. The foamed and unfoamed composite articles have strength, modulus and density values comparable to typical hardwoods or softwoods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto
    Inventor: Raymond T. Woodhams
  • Patent number: 5474729
    Abstract: A method of producing an automobile windshield molding for sealing a space between a windshield and a periphery of a window opening of a vehicle body panel utilizes cooperating dies. The windshield molding comprises a pair of extruded side molding parts, a pair of extruded corner molding parts, and an extruded upper molding part integral with and extending between the side and corner molding parts. Each of the side molding parts associated with each side edge of the windshield is larger in thickness compared to the upper and corner molding parts, where a water drain channel is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiko Yada
  • Patent number: 5470518
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a reclosable closure profile, wherein the configuration of the closure profile is mechanically altered for controlling the width of the gap in a groove member by passing the closure profile, while still hot enough to be formed, through a profile gapping means, whereby the surfaces of the closure profile contact the gapping means, thereby maintaining the desired final gap width of the closure profile and/or whereby the gapping means includes a cutting means for notching the base of the groove member for controlling the closure force of the groove member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: DowBrands L.P.
    Inventors: Brian C. Dais, Jose Porchia
  • Patent number: 5470517
    Abstract: A method of pultrusion is provided that includes the steps of saturating a bundle of fibers in a curable resin, pulling the saturated fibers (also known as "prepreg") into a flexible mold, manipulating the mold (with the saturated fibers therein) into a given shape or form, allowing the saturated fibers to cure or harden, and then removing the flexible mold by mechanical or chemical means. This novel method permits one to mold prepreg into any given shape prior to hardening, not limited by the shape of a given mold or die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Ed Conley
  • Patent number: 5468438
    Abstract: When forming a molding strip of varying cross-sectional shape along its length, lengths for finishing into molding strips are extruded with a prescribed cross-sectional shape through an extrusion port provided in the dies, before removing superfluous portions from the molding strip proper, wherein superfluous portions is extruded using a different resin material which is incompatible with that used for extrusion of the molding strip proper for later removal of said superfluous portions made of the different incompatible resin material from the molding strip proper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiko Yada
  • Patent number: 5468444
    Abstract: A process for producing an oriented blown film of a thermoplastic resin by blown film extrusion, carried out by blowing air into an extruded bubble of the resin extruded from a ring die to expand the bubble and cooling the expanded bubble with air from a cooling air ring, wherein blown film extrusion is carried out under such conditions that the ratio of (b) the final diameter of the expanded bubble to (a) the diameter of the bubble at the crystallizing temperature of the thermoplastic resin ((b)/(a)) ranges from 1.5 to 10. The process provides an oriented blown film excellent in strength, appearance, and heat shrinkage characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Yazaki, Masataka Noro, Takashi Matsui, Noriyuki Kobayashi, Hironari Sano, Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5468439
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing finite extruded profiles (3) from elastomer material with at least one projecting sealing lip (12) of different contour (32) over the length of the profile, for simple and very accurate manufacture the invention proposes that by means of two needles (10, 11) which act laterally on the sealing lip (12) and whose depth of contact (a) is controlled by a cam disk (5), the specified contour configuration (32) in the corresponding profile area (12) is incised in the form of grooves and the projecting profile section (38) severed after vulcanization (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Metzeler Automotive Profiles GmbH
    Inventor: Jurgen Kranz
  • Patent number: 5468442
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for gauging and controlling extruded profiled elements, particularly extruded profiled elements made of synthetic material. The apparatus includes at least one control and correction gauge arrangeable downstream of an extrusion die along the extrusion direction and in which there is a passage shaped so as to match the profile of the extruded profiled element. The passage can be crossed by the extruded profiled element, and there are holes and/or channels for heating and cooling preset regions of the profiled element to correct the profile and/or the internal tensions of the profiled element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Brabor S.r.l.
    Inventor: Romano Brambilla
  • Patent number: 5466403
    Abstract: Apparatus for extruding and cooling a polymeric sheet incorporating an extruder connected to feed polymer through a rigid conduit and to and through a sheet die, and a roll stack including a plurality of cooling rolls having nips arranged adjacent the sheet die to continuously receive and cool polymeric sheet emanating from said die. Polymeric sheet feed control apparatus for tilting the stack to arrange the roll nips at various angles between and including the vertical and the horizontal, a pair of spaced-apart swivels positioned between the extruder and the sheet die, one swivel being connected to permit independent swinging movement of the sheet die up and down, and another swivel being connected to permit independent tilting movement of the sheet die angularly up and down to relate the tilt of the sheet die to the tilt of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Welex Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank R. Nissel
  • Patent number: 5466402
    Abstract: A method of adjusting gap of a plastic flow channel is provided in a plastic forming device having a first body part adjacent one side of and adjustable relative to the channel and a second body part on which the first body part is mounted by a tight fitting between the first and second body parts. When the device is not in operation one of the body parts is subjected to a first temperature change producing a temporary temperature differential and a loosening of the fitting between the body parts. Positioning of the first body part on the second body part is adjusted while the fitting is loosened and then the one body part is subjected to a second temperature change opposite to the first temperature change to offset the temperature differential and restore the tight fitting between the body parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Corma Inc.
    Inventor: Manfred A. A. Lupke
  • Patent number: 5464577
    Abstract: An easily controllable method to adjust a die slot exit gap to produce an accurately controlled flow from the slot exit across the width of a die provides movable back seats at the back of the die that cause front and back portions of die plates to move simultaneously to produce a change in the die slot exit gap. At least one actuator is located between the front and back seats of the die to increase or reduce the actuator length to bend the first plate around the front seat thereby to increase or decrease the first exit gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William K. Leonard, Stephen W. Mohn, Timothy J. Edman, Philip D. Schiller
  • Patent number: 5464575
    Abstract: A plastic material is injected in the fluid state into a flexible closed mold having a molding cavity in which is placed the edge of a glass pane. The plastic material is injected into the cavity of the mold in the inert state and is then activated by high-frequency electromagnetic radiation or by microwave radiation. An insert is placed in the cavity of the mold before the injection of the plastic material. The injection and subsequent hardening of the plastic material are carried out inside the cavity of the mold in which cavity the edge of the glass pane and the insert are arranged in their definitive relative position. Glass panes for motor vehicles having a trim strip or elements such as ducts, cables or fastening screws can be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignees: Automobiles Peugeot, Automobiles Citroen
    Inventors: Franck Jaffiol, Jean J. Olivier, Gerard Thomas
  • Patent number: 5464585
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for molding articles having a bulk material and an auxiliary material, such as an additive, a comonomer, or a catalyst, present in the bulk material as a fixed concentration strip or in a concentration gradient in the direction from the surface to the interior. The invention is especially useful for concentrating surface-enhancing auxiliary materials at the surface of an article without wasting the auxiliary material in the interior of the article where it provides minimal value. This invention is also applicable to concentrating an interior-enhancing auxiliary material in the interior of the article without degrading surface sensitive properties. The method for manufacturing an as-molded article having a bulk material and an auxiliary material provided therein generally comprises injecting a moldable bulk material composition into a mold with an essentially laminar flow profile such that the earlier injected material will reside at the surface of the mold (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Metton America, Inc.
    Inventor: Denise R. Fitzgibbon
  • Patent number: 5462710
    Abstract: A manufacturing method forms flanges for use in a film cartridge which are made of resin. Each flange is made of the resin by an injection molding process. Gates to cavities provided in a mold are located such that residual portions of solidified resin at the gates, remaining after the injection molding process has been completed, do not come into contact with a film in the cartridge as the film is moved into and out of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Shibazaki, Hitoshi Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 5460760
    Abstract: According to the present invention, the copolymers of ethylene vinyl alcohol are extruded using extrusion equipment coated with a fluoropolymer. This method improves the processability, alleviates/slows down die buildup, improves the extrudate quality by reducing die lines on surfaces of the extruded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mingliang L. Tsai, Tien-Kuei Su
  • Patent number: 5460768
    Abstract: A process for producing a container is disclosed including molding the container using an injection molding machine with a multicavity mold having not less than 12 cavities by charging a hot runner thermoplastic resin having a melt flow rate of 5 to 80 g/10 minutes to the multicavity mold, wherein not less than 70% of the total injected resin amount at each shot is injected at an injection speed which is adjusted at 150 to 270 mm/sec., and the remaining resin at each shot is injected at a final injection speed which is adjusted at 3 to 90 mm/sec. By employing the process, molding troubles such as burrs, stringiness, short shot and weld lines do not occur, and the container can be molded continuously for a long period under unmanned conditions without screening inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsuo Akao, Osamu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5458824
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-rusting unitary co-extruded article, which may be used for a variety of purposes, including a seal. The co-extruded article includes at least two dissimilar discrete parts such as a rubber component, referred to herein as the "rubber extrudate," and a thermoplastic component, referred to herein as the "plastic extrudate." A particular advantage of the invention is that the rubber extrudate and thermoplastic extrudate are cohesively joined at their interface. By cohesively joined, it is meant that the two extrudates stick together tightly without the necessity of a separate adhesive. Where hardness is desired of the thermoplastic extrudate, ethylene vinyl acetate is generally preferred. Where a seal is desired, the rubber extrudate includes ethylene propylene diene rubber, which provides a suitable seal. The invention also relates to a method for making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: The Geauga Company
    Inventors: Thomas O. Powers, Timothy T. Hertrick, Mary A. Peak
  • Patent number: 5458836
    Abstract: An improved die, containing one or more orifices, for the extrusion of polymers is disclosed wherein the orifices are flared at the polymer discharge end, and the orifices have certain relative dimensions and configurations. The dies are useful for producing items such as films, shaped profiles, sheets, fibers, strands, etc. Also disclosed are a process for using the die, and an extrusion apparatus containing such a die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Julie A. Rakestraw, Marion G. Waggoner
  • Patent number: RE35108
    Abstract: A spin pack for spinning multiple components includes a distribution device which distributes mutually separated molten polymer streams to a spinneret so that each mutually separated molten polymer stream is accessible at each active spinneret backhole. Intermediate the spinneret and the distribution device, a selection assembly selects which, if any, mutually separated molten polymer stream flows into which backhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Gerry A. Hagen, Dominick A. Burlone, Phillip E. Wilson